Small Business Transportation Resource CenterGreat Lakes Region

The USDOT Small Business Transportation Resource Center (SBTRC) for the Great Lakes Region at the Illinois Chamber of Commerce (IHCC) mission is to increase the number of small businesses that are prepared to compete for, and enter into, transportation-related prime and subcontract opportunities.

SBTRC Services:

Business CounselingWe provide one-one counseling in the areas of marketing, planning, financial, procurement and operational assistance.

Capital Access Program (CAP) & Short Term Lending Program (STLP)The USDOT's Capital Access Program (CAP) provides assistance to small & disadvantaged businesses who are looking to access capital for transportation related projects via government loans. The SBTRC also provides assistance with the USDOT's Short Term Lending Program, where US DOT guarantees up to $750,000 in loans, with participating lenders, for eligible small & disadvantaged businesses. The loan guarantee provides a revolving line of credit for work on federally funded transportation related jobs.

Bonding Education Program (BEP) The BEP consists of a comprehensive set of all-inclusive workshops designed to address what businesses need to do to become bond-ready, as well as one-on-one sessions with local surety bonding professionals to help in assembling the materials necessary for a complete bond application. This program is tailored to businesses competing for transportation-related contracts.

Procurement Technical Assistance We provide comprehensive technical assistance in selling products and services to federal, state and local government agencies. Meeting the needs of entrepreneurs, established businesses and government, the center helps businesses access the opportunities in the marketplace.

Women and Girls in Transportation Initiative (WITI) This program is designed to increase the participation of women in the transportation industry and prepare young women to become our nation’s future leaders.

For more in-depth information about the SBTRC-Great Lakes Region, visit their website by clicking here.

For more information about the SBTRC at IHCC, contact: Gabriela Garcia, SBTRC Project Director, or Jacki Reyes, SBTRC Project Coordinator, at 312.425.9500.